U.S. troops, cleric's militia battle outside Najaf
Fallujah leaders talk with Marines; convoys to get more protection
NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq’s top Shiite cleric on Friday warned the U.S. military against entering the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf as U.S. troops clashed with Shiite militiamen. Another Shiite leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, who is wanted by the U.S. military, said negotiations over his standoff were near collapse.
Al-Sadr militiamen reportedly attacked American soldiers outside the city of Kufa, neighboring Najaf. There were large explosions by the river in a sparsely populated area on the edge of the city. Five civilians caught in the crossfire were killed and 14 were wounded, hospital officials said.
Some 2,500 U.S. soldiers are deployed outside Najaf, under orders to kill or capture al-Sadr and dismantle his al-Mahdi Army militia.
Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, warned of a strong Shiite response if U.S. forces entered Najaf or Karbala to capture al-Sadr.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4667742/